FIFA Audit & Compliance Committee Independent Chair Domenico Scala has "thrown down the gauntlet to world football's governing body by publishing his own proposals for sweeping reforms to stamp out corruption," according to Ralph Atkins of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Scala, who chairs FIFA's audit committee, would overhaul the exec committee, "impose term limits on top officials and curb the regional confederations that represent the sport in different continents." He also said that FIFA should "consider legal action against former executives to claim damages for financial or reputational losses it has suffered." The proposals amount to a "direct challenge" to the reform committee announced in July by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who has said he is standing down in February after more than 40 years at the organization. The official reform committee, "dominated by representatives of the confederations, has yet to discuss concrete proposals." It has promised only a "preliminary update" on its work at the next FIFA exec committee meeting this month in Zurich. The report "also puts pressure" on candidates to succeed Blatter, with Scala warning he "would say if he thought reform steps agreed were inadequate." Scala: "I will make a judgment and I will make my judgment public" (FT, 9/10). REUTERS' Simon Evans reported a "comprehensive and radical set of reforms" were unveiled but it "remains far from clear whether they will even be voted upon." Scala's proposal includes replacing the "all-powerful" exec committee with a governing council, elected by congress, and a "management committee to handle the day-to-day affairs" of the organization. Scala: "The reform process at FIFA is essential to the future of the organization and it must be guided by broad public discussion of all reform ideas." The recent creation of a FIFA Reform Committee, headed by former IOC Dir General François Carrard and "dominated by the six regional confederations, complicates matters and they could choose to water-down or even ignore Scala's recommendations." Scala confirmed he "does not have the power to put his plans on the congress agenda but that option is available to any national association." He said that he would not, however, be "actively looking for a supportive FA to provide such a way to get his proposals voted upon." Scala said, "No, I don't do politics. I do my role which is establishing the diagnosis and the facts" (REUTERS, 9/10).
OFFICIALS STAYED 'FAR TOO LONG': The BBC reported Scala said, "A number of issues have their root cause in the fact that people have stayed for far too long." After delivering his proposals, Scala, who has acted independently and wants Carrard's reform panel to adopt his ideas, also said, "If FIFA does not move, public opinion will not change." In addition to term limits, he announced plans for:
- Improved integrity checks for exec committee members and those in key FIFA bodies.
- Direct election of ex-co members by congress.
- Individual disclosure of remunerations, income and compensation for key FIFA figures.
- Improved independence of standing committees, avoiding conflicts of interest.
- Revised World Cup bidding proposals (BBC, 9/10).
